Last Week in Denmark (12.12 - 19.12) Episode 43
Get a job as a vaccinator! New restrictions; Inger Støjberg; War in Ukraine
Editor HQ
This is the last edition of “Last Week in Denmark” in 2021. Thank you for reading this newsletter for almost a year now. 43 editions, 5000 subscribers, an opening rate of over 70%, less than 10 unsubscribes and more than 500 hours of volunteering from me (to collect, sort and present the information).
This weekly newsletter has grown together with its community. We got a logo and a visual identity thanks to Andreea; we started to make partnerships and have a social media presence thanks to Cristian; we got a Romanian version of this newsletter thanks to the translators (Diana, Delia, Oana and Ligia), proofreaders (Iustin, Ana Maria and Irena) and content creators (Alina, Angela and Ioan); we got a Polish-version of this newsletter thanks to Miguel and the team of translators (Monika, Kajetan and Pawel). On this occasion, I also want to thank two former volunteers in the team, Lucian and Cristina, for their contributions.
See you again in mid-January 2022!
Public Health HQ
Status: 80,1% of the population has been vaccinated (4.702.853 people). 76,7% of the population received the second vaccine shot (4.505.271 people). 26,9% of the population received the booster shot (1.581.477 people). The region with the highest vaccination rate - North Denmark (81,7%).
If you have been vaccinated (with the second dose) more than 5 months and a half ago, then you are invited to get the booster shot, as soon as possible. You can get vaccinated at the public vaccination centres, private vaccination centres (also for free) and your family doctor (with a few exceptions).
Corona infection status: There is an average of 10000 new infected people every day. 518 people are hospitalized. The region with the highest rate of infection is the Capital Region (Copenhagen and suburbs). The region with the lowest rate of infection is North Denmark.
Travel Guidelines: Update regarding Istanbul and Dubai Airports.
From 13th December, a test is required upon arrival if you fly from Istanbul Airport. The requirement for Dubai Airport has been waived.
Fully vaccinated, previously infected and people with a negative test can enter Denmark without restrictions*. If you are not vaccinated or previously infected and without a negative test, you must take one in Denmark in the first 24 hours.
*South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Malawi and Zambia turned “red” on the map, which means travel to and from there is discouraged. If you arrived from there in the last 10 days, you need to take a test immediately and enter isolation for 10 days. From now on, you can enter Denmark from that area, only with a “recognizable purpose” and a “negative test”.
New restrictions: From Sunday, the 19th of December until the 17th of January:
Venues, theatres, cinemas, amusement parks, zoos, museums, art galleries, culture houses, rooms for church events, sports venues, gaming halls, casinos, playgrounds and water parks will close down.
You are recommended to see as few people as possible during the winter holidays - and if you meet, try to do it outside. You can go to church for the Christmas service.
Restaurants and bars will close at 23.00, with the last call at 22.00. The number of people inside is limited (depending on the size of the location). Also, private parties held outside of home need to finish at 23.00.
Shopping areas will have a limit on how many people can be inside at the same time, depending on size.
You need to wear a mask everywhere (inside), except your own home.
You need a corona pass to take the regional buses and trains (plus seat tickets on trains).
Employers are encouraged to allow the employees to work from home.
Free vaccination against pneumococcal diseases: From 15th December, if you have diabetes, chronic heart/lung/kidney/liver disease or you work as a welder, regardless of age, you can get a free vaccine against pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis. You can get vaccinated at your doctor, private vaccination centres and pharmacies.
Danish Politics HQ
The curious case of Inger Støjberg: The infamous former minister of integration (2015-2019) has been found guilty by the Rigsretten for the illegal separation of 23 young asylum-seeker couples. Punishment? 60 days in prison.
“Rigsretten” is a special justice court in Denmark for ministers that broke the law. It has been convened only six times in history. The last time was 26 years ago.
Inger is remembered for introducing dozens of restrictions for newcomers and celebrating them with cake. The ministerial order that landed her in jail: “married refugees under 18 years old should not be accommodated with their spouse.”
Inger resigned from the position of vice-president of Venstre (Liberal Party) in February 2021. Since then she has been an independent member of the Folketinget.
The majority of the Danish parliament (Folketinget) will vote to exclude Inger from the Parliament on 21st December. Why? Because according to the law she has become “unworthy”. Only two parties support Inger, DF (Social-Nationalist) and Nye Borgerlige (Libertarian-Nationalist).
Strange enough, DF (Social-Nationalist Party) wants Inger to become their party president regardless of the guilty verdict.
The Queen has decided to remove Inger from the “Order of Dannebrog”.
Other “Rigsretten” cases
1856 - Prime Minister Anders Sandøe Ørsted was put on trial for spending more money than approved on the military during the Crimean War. However, the trial found the prime minister “not guilty”.
1877 - Minister of Finance Andreas Frederik Krieger was put on trial for selling the grounds of Marmor Church, for a very low price to CF Tietgen. The trial found the minister “not guilty”.
1877 - Prime Minister Carl Christian Hall and Minister of Culture Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae were put on trial for overspending on the construction of the Royal Theatre. The trial found them both “not guilty”.
1910 - Minister of Justice Peter Adler Alberti was put on trial for stealing money from Zealand Farmers' Savings Bank. The trial found the minister “guilty”.
1995 - Minister of Justice Erik Ninn-Hansen was put on trial for illegal processing of applications for family reunification for Tamils. 300 Tamil applications were secretly suspended. The trial found the minister “guilty” and sentenced him to 4 months of jail.
Danish Economy HQ
Corona jobs: After “poder” (Corona test site worker) and “smitteopsporing” (Infection Detection Unit), now you can apply for “vaccinatør”. In this job, you need to vaccinate people, and it’s not necessary to have a medical background. It’s a well paid temporary job. You can apply here:
Hundreds of new jobs in Kalundborg: Novo Nordisk will invest 17 billion dkk to expand its production centre (where they produce medicine) in Kalundborg. At the moment, Novo Nordisk has 3200 employees in Kalundborg. When the expansion is finished, there should be 3600 permanent employees. Also, 2500 temporary workers will help with the expansion. The company is the second largest in Denmark after Mærsk.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Call from breweries: Return the empty bottles to the vending machines. There is a shortage of bottles and the companies cannot keep up the supply for the Christmas season when the consumption increases. For example, the Hancock Breweries in Skive needs 100.000 empty bottles.
Overcrowded prisons: To solve the problem, the government decided the following:
To rent a prison with 300 places in Kosovo, for criminals with a foreign background (that will be deported anyway after their sentence).
To build a prison with 300 places in Denmark.
To change the rules, so that criminals can serve the last part of the sentence at home (with an ankle bracelet).
To invest in better education and more study places for prison guards.
The World in 2021 HQ
New Caledonia: The French territory from South Pacific held an independence referendum on 12th December. 96,5% of the voters rejected the idea of independence from France. However, only 43% of the people voted, as the indigenous Kanak people boycotted. The island is a former penal colony of France.
Arctic Region: The highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic, 38°C, has been officially confirmed, sounding "alarm bells" over Earth's changing climate. In comparison, the highest temperature ever measured in Denmark was 36,4°C (Holstebro, 1975).
Miss Universe: The 70th edition of the competition has been won by Harnaaz Sandhu (India). The third victory for India in the history of the competition. 80 countries participated.
Russia vs. Ukraine: An invasion of Ukraine from Russia is expected to happen in January 2022. 175.000 Russian troops are currently preparing on the border. To prepare for the invasion, Ukraine gathered 125.000 troops on the border.
NATO position: They will not deploy troops to help Ukraine, however, they have prepared harsh sanctions against Russia. Also, the United Kingdom is helping Ukraine to build two naval bases (Ochakiv on the Black Sea, and at Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov) and the USA has donated anti-tank Javelin missiles and two Coast Guard patrol boats.
Potential sanctions against Russia: Disconnect Russia's banking system from the international Swift payment system; Prevent the opening of Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany and measures targeting Russia's RDIF sovereign wealth fund or restrictions on banks converting roubles into foreign currency. The invasion will clearly be very expensive for Russia.
Why the invasion? Putin is losing support at home because of the pandemic. To ramp up the support levels (at the annexation of Crimea they reached 98%), Putin has started to talk about the “one nation” project, where “Russians and Ukrainians are the same nation”. In that direction, Russia gave passports to 500,000 people from rebel-held areas in Ukraine and claimed that if those people ask for help, they must respond.
European Union HQ
Netherlands: 271 days after the Dutch national elections, a coalition government was formed with Mark Rutte as prime minister (the fourth mandate). The coalition is formed by VVD (center-right liberals), D66 (progressive liberals), CDA (center-right conservatives) and CU (center-right conservatives).
Bulgaria: After three parliamentary elections this year, the political parties finally managed to form a coalition government led by Kiril Petkov (Harvard alumni). The new prime minister party (We Continue the Change - anti-corruption party) managed to form a coalition with the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the anti-elite There Is Such A People party, and the liberal anti-corruption group Democratic Bulgaria. Main focus - to end corruption.